Rich
Saucin'
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Tyson? You're right about Ali and Frazier and some of the other greats. Mayweather won't surpass them. But I'm betting you won't find many boxing experts who'd rank Tyson ahead of Mayweather. His resume is sooo much better than Tyson's. He's beaten so many more accomplished fighters than Tyson.
Just off the top of my head, Tyson had two fights against guys considered "great" that he won. Holmes and Spinks. Looking around and I believe those are the only two fighters he beat that are in the Hall of Fame. And unless Trevor Berbick knows someone, those will forever be the only two fighters he beat in the Hall of Fame.
Meanwhile, Mayweather has beaten no fewer than five guys who will, in all likelihood, be in the Hall of Fame. De La Hoya and Gatti are already there. Eventually Jose Luis Castillo (who he beat twice) Shane Mosley, and Juan Manuel Marquez will be there. And a case could be made for Ricky Hatton, Diego Corrales, and depending on how his career goes from here on out, Saul Alvarez.
But again, this is why I don't think it makes sense to mention Tyson. Yea, he fought some great fighters and that counts for something if you either win or look good losing, but getting obliterated by Holyfield and Lewis shouldn't count for shit. So he's got two wins on his card against top-notch talent, Holmes (who was old, but I counted Mayweather's fight against an over the hill De La Hoya), and Spinks. And that's it. Had he actually been competitive in his losses to Holyfield and Lewis, then I'd maybe consider it.
Just off the top of my head, Tyson had two fights against guys considered "great" that he won. Holmes and Spinks. Looking around and I believe those are the only two fighters he beat that are in the Hall of Fame. And unless Trevor Berbick knows someone, those will forever be the only two fighters he beat in the Hall of Fame.
Meanwhile, Mayweather has beaten no fewer than five guys who will, in all likelihood, be in the Hall of Fame. De La Hoya and Gatti are already there. Eventually Jose Luis Castillo (who he beat twice) Shane Mosley, and Juan Manuel Marquez will be there. And a case could be made for Ricky Hatton, Diego Corrales, and depending on how his career goes from here on out, Saul Alvarez.
Agreed, but when Floyd is talking about being "The Best Ever" that supersedes weight divisions. When you're talking about The Best Ever, like he is, I start comparing guys' respective styles and their intangibles and I don't think Floyd matches up to some of the best ever like the guys I listed above.
He's got a nice record but you have to also look at his opponents and take into account the fact that Floyd is known to have ducked some of the best competitors from time to time. The strength of his opponents, or lack of, is something that routinely gets brought up whenever people bring up his undefeated record.
But again, this is why I don't think it makes sense to mention Tyson. Yea, he fought some great fighters and that counts for something if you either win or look good losing, but getting obliterated by Holyfield and Lewis shouldn't count for shit. So he's got two wins on his card against top-notch talent, Holmes (who was old, but I counted Mayweather's fight against an over the hill De La Hoya), and Spinks. And that's it. Had he actually been competitive in his losses to Holyfield and Lewis, then I'd maybe consider it.